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Archive 2023 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III

  
 
1bwana1
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p.36 #1 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


adcimagery wrote:
I don't know what they're going to do with a Z7III - 61MP doesn't really feel like enough of an upgrade to give it a place over the Z8's other features, which I'm assuming wouldn't trickle down to it. Mirrorless product line differentiation/segmentation across all the brands is really kind of a mess right now.


Hardware wise there is room for a lot of improvement. I see Nikon moving it up to at least the 61MP category of the competition. I also expect new processor hardware improvements to bring AF up to current standard. It will probably have a Z8/9 style articulable rear screen, higher quality EVF.

Then of course there are all the software improvements including a more configurable interface, New more efficient file formats and things like that.

I actually expect this to be a big upgrade. The Z6/7 II generation being so far behind at this point.



Jul 10, 2023 at 10:40 AM
j4nu
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p.36 #2 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


One area where there is still some room for improvement is eyeAF accuracy.
Looking at this recent video:

?t=366
I was hoping Z8 would be a step in that direction but it seems it's no better than other Sony/Nikon/... cameras currently.

Edited on Jul 10, 2023 at 04:40 PM · View previous versions



Jul 10, 2023 at 01:24 PM
adcimagery
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p.36 #3 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


1bwana1 wrote:
Hardware wise there is room for a lot of improvement. I see Nikon moving it up to at least the 61MP category of the competition. I also expect new processor hardware improvements to bring AF up to current standard. It will probably have a Z8/9 style articulable rear screen, higher quality EVF.

Then of course there are all the software improvements including a more configurable interface, New more efficient file formats and things like that.

I actually expect this to be a big upgrade. The Z6/7 II generation being so far behind at this point.


If it's just going to a A7R V-Nikon Edition, that's rough for Nikon shooters given the delay. I wonder how good they'll make the AF, as it'd start to steal the Z8's thunder at a certain point.



Jul 10, 2023 at 01:41 PM
docusync
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p.36 #4 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


For me it's all about lenses.

I shoot Sony because I like the AF speed of the 400/2.8 and 600/4 on my A1 body. I like how small the 35/1.4GM (can you believe Canon still doesn't offer a native 35/1.4) and how light and fast the 24-70 GM II. I'm a big fan of the 135/1.8 GM and its predecessor the 135/1.8 ZA (since I got my A99 in 2012). I'm not a huge 50mm shooter but I appreciate the 50/1.2GM which is 200g lighter than the RF50/1.2 and 300g (!!!) lighter than the Nikon 50/1.2 while offering top notch IQ. I don't own anything UWA but I'm aware there is a tremendous offering of the E-mount UWA glass. The 12-24/2.8 GM is the most notable IMO.

I shoot Canon because they offer top quality portraiture optics: the RF85/1.2DS, RF85/1.2 and EF200/2. I also like their RF100/2.8 1.4x Macro and the super compact 70-200/2.8. I'm curious to try the new 100-300 but I only buy it when I see a new high res high speed body (commonly known as "R1" wunderwaffe ).

Unfortunately there is nothing for me in the Nikon world except for the 400 TC & 600 TC. The only problem - I cannot buy them anywhere, and extra $2k for an integrated TC and losses for selling my GMs are simply not worth it for me. They do offer some unique lenses missing in the Sony/Canon world, like the 800/6.3, 58/0.95 MF, 400/4.5 but I'm just not interested in those.

...so, long story short - no Nikon for me, at least for now. Looking forward to seeing an A1 successor and the announced 300/2.8.



Jul 10, 2023 at 02:25 PM
1bwana1
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p.36 #5 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


adcimagery wrote:
If it's just going to a A7R V-Nikon Edition, that's rough for Nikon shooters given the delay. I wonder how good they'll make the AF, as it'd start to steal the Z8's thunder at a certain point.


I think Nikon shooters are comfortable by now in getting cameras whose specs match basically what Sony has been offering for a few years. In fact, I can't think of a single Nikon mirrorless model whare that hasn't been the case.

The performance of the Z6/7III cameras will be limited by the non stacked sensors they are almost sure to use. That will include AF performance. I highly doubt Nikon will have an AI driven separate AF processor in the gen III cameras, so AF is not likely to match Sony once again.



Jul 10, 2023 at 03:52 PM
adcimagery
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p.36 #6 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


1bwana1 wrote:
I think Nikon shooters are comfortable by now in getting cameras whose specs match basically what Sony has been offering for a few years. In fact, I can't think of a single Nikon mirrorless model whare that hasn't been the case.

The performance of the Z6/7III cameras will be limited by the non stacked sensors they are almost sure to use. That will include AF performance. I highly doubt Nikon will have an AI driven separate AF processor in the gen III cameras, so AF is not likely to match Sony once again.


I recently switched from Nikon to Sony, in part because of lens strategy, and in part because I was really feeling that the bodies were lagging Sony's, especially if you didn't need Z9 (and subsequently Z8's) features.

This hypothetical Z7III with weaker AF than the A7R V goes back to my original point - it feels like it would need to offer something special, as the A7R V from over a year ago would have better AF, more customization, etc. Z7III into the more expensive Z8 body would also eliminate the price advantage, probably.

I don't really know where they're going with the 7 line - feels a bit like the D3/D700 era, where speed was well covered but resolution was forgotten until the D800 launch.



Jul 10, 2023 at 06:04 PM
patotts
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p.36 #7 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


docusync wrote:
For me it's all about lenses.

I shoot Sony because I like the AF speed of the 400/2.8 and 600/4 on my A1 body. I like how small the 35/1.4GM (can you believe Canon still doesn't offer a native 35/1.4) and how light and fast the 24-70 GM II. I'm a big fan of the 135/1.8 GM and its predecessor the 135/1.8 ZA (since I got my A99 in 2012). I'm not a huge 50mm shooter but I appreciate the 50/1.2GM which is 200g lighter than the RF50/1.2 and 300g (!!!) lighter than the Nikon 50/1.2 while offering top notch IQ.
...Show more

I actually really like the output I got from my Canon R5 when I owned them - and looking back at the files, and re-processing them today, but I just don't understand Canon's [lens] strategy. I enjoy working with primes and throwing a camera with 1 or 2 primes in the bag, e.g. when I go on a business trip. Canon offers no 35/1.4 pro level prime (no, I don't enjoy using their 35/1.8), no 50/1.4 (which, I prefer over a big and heavy f/1.2 and the Canon 50/1.2 is too big, heavy, noisy AF motors, and too expensive compared to the Sony equivalent), no 24/1.4, etc. The Sony 70-200/2.8 GMii is much easier to work with than the RF 70-200/2.8 (the push/pull zoom is a real pain to work with in fast environments like sport). Again, I really like Canon's ergs, menus, their AF system, etc but they need to change their current lens line-up and strategy if they ever want to see me as a customer again.

Interestingly enough, I have a kid that taking AP photography and we picked Canon for him, so we still have Canon in the family.

With regards to Nikon - Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” The happiest Nikon shooters are the ones that stay within that system and don't bother to benchmark with every new lens or body that comes out from the competition. The Z8 gets you Canon R5 AF performance 3 years after the R5 came to the market. It is a great AF performance level and Nikon shooters are naturally very happy with it. If you never shot with a Canon R3 or Sony A1, it feels like a real revelation. And you get a 45MP stacked sensor at that price point, which is amazing.

OK, this is turning into a rant... I think with the arrival of the Nikon Z8, all three big brands now have competitive camera body offerings that all have their advantages and disadvantages. It will be a lens & lens eco-system war from now on.



Jul 11, 2023 at 12:13 PM
saaketham
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p.36 #8 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


patotts wrote:
The happiest Nikon shooters are the ones that stay within that system and
don't bother to benchmark with every new lens or body that comes out from the competition.
The Z8 gets you Canon R5 AF performance 3 years after the R5 came to the market.
It is a great AF performance level and Nikon shooters are naturally very happy with it.
If you never shot with a Canon R3 or Sony A1, it feels like a real revelation.
And you get a 45MP stacked sensor at that price point, which is amazing.


If I'd upgraded from my D750 (DSLR for those who don't remember DSLRs and rotary phones) to the Z8, I'd be stunned.
If I am upgrading from z6ii / z7ii to z8, I'd be delighted.
So, I fully agree with that post.



Jul 11, 2023 at 01:02 PM
hiepphotog
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p.36 #9 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


docusync wrote:
For me it's all about lenses.

I shoot Sony because I like the AF speed of the 400/2.8 and 600/4 on my A1 body. I like how small the 35/1.4GM (can you believe Canon still doesn't offer a native 35/1.4) and how light and fast the 24-70 GM II. I'm a big fan of the 135/1.8 GM and its predecessor the 135/1.8 ZA (since I got my A99 in 2012). I'm not a huge 50mm shooter but I appreciate the 50/1.2GM which is 200g lighter than the RF50/1.2 and 300g (!!!) lighter than the Nikon 50/1.2 while offering top notch IQ.
...Show more

I wonder if the Plena has changed this for you. I would only add another system when they have lenses truly interesting to me that I don’t think current system could ever make. Too bad Nikon decided to make a 135 as the first Plena.



Sep 30, 2023 at 05:57 PM
docusync
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p.36 #10 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


hiepphotog wrote:
I wonder if the Plena has changed this for you. I would only add another system when they have lenses truly interesting to me that I don’t think current system could ever make. Too bad Nikon decided to make a 135 as the first Plena.


No doubt it's a great lens! If I was a Nikon shooter - I'd already pre-order this lens, but... if you compare the Plena to the Sony counterpart - not sure if it's worth an "upgrade". The 135GM is a flawless lens, the sharpest one LR ever tested https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/03/sony-fe-135mm-f1-8-gm-early-mtf-results/ They even tested it at 100lpmm! Assuming the Plena is equally as sharp, it offers a worse reproduction ratio (1:5 vs 1:4) and I'm not sure if those 2 x STM motors will be equally as fast as the quad linear XD in the GM.

According to Nikon, this lens is supposed to deliver perfectly round bokeh circles across the board, but take look at this official example: https://cdn-4.nikon-cdn.com/e/Q5NM96RZZo-RRZZFeeMiveET0gpU-PYm90DZMEloBfYxYlBkAqqDJ_27agrc5P-pEaA9Smf-A-cWpZ3WOrCxXatS1tqxROPP/Overview/8-Stunning.jpg
Doesn't look perfectly round to me. We don't even know if they shot it wide open. Stopped down to f/2.8 you can get round circles from pretty much any lens.

I looked through all my photos taken with the GM lens and was not able to find anything where I can see distinct bokeh circles to compare. Lots of blur but no circles I still assume the Plena would beat the GM in "roundness", but I'd lose my 1/400s X-sync. The Z8/Z9 offer only 1/200s which doesn't matter indoors but not sufficient for "active" shots outdoors. 1/400s is barely enough and I wouldn't settle for anything less (I'm not a fan of HSS)... I'm also not sure if Nikon's ES can work in challenging LED lighting conditions.

I think giving this lens a name to justify +$400 price difference compared to the other two is a smart move by the Nikon marketing team. I'd love to see one same frame taken by all three 1st party 135mm/1.8 lenses, so I could really judge the difference. If no one is going to do it within a couple of months - I'll probably rent them all and do it myself I wouldn't expect to see a huge difference like a "normal" lens vs DS/STF but I'm still very curious to see them all side by side.



Oct 02, 2023 at 06:27 PM
saaketham
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p.36 #11 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


After using a z8 for several weeks, on local and long road-trips (Smokies, Rockies and more) ..
with a 24-70mm f/2.8 S and 800mm f/6.3 PF, these are my conclusions. YMMV.

- z8 is an excellent camera that looks beautiful, and feels solid (albeit heavy/bulky)
- EVF is nicer to use than A1's, LCD is nice, buttons are laid out well
- Custom and Shooting banks are confusing to me, and overkill for my needs
- I got used to light cameras and lenses, and kept picking up the A1 most of the time
- IQ is great, especially for landscapes/flora
- A1 (to me) is much easier to use, as far as AF with moving subjects goes - it just works

I'm currently in the process of trading it for a Sony a7RV with a FM-er who's going the other way.
Plan to test the a7R5 as a second body to accompany my a1.



Oct 03, 2023 at 08:47 AM
1bwana1
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p.36 #12 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


docusync wrote:
No doubt it's a great lens! If I was a Nikon shooter - I'd already pre-order this lens, but... if you compare the Plena to the Sony counterpart - not sure if it's worth an "upgrade". The 135GM is a flawless lens, the sharpest one LR ever tested https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/03/sony-fe-135mm-f1-8-gm-early-mtf-results/ They even tested it at 100lpmm! Assuming the Plena is equally as sharp, it offers a worse reproduction ratio (1:5 vs 1:4) and I'm not sure if those 2 x STM motors will be equally as fast as the quad linear XD in the GM.

According to Nikon, this lens is
...Show more

The Plena is a nice lens that should offer a recognizable rendering character in certain circumstances where bokeh balls figure prominently. It may be the best Christmas lights lens available today. So if you are a mall Santa photographer it is a great choice. It will not offer better sharpness in normal usage for a lens in this FL. It is also not a fundamentally new technology. Sigma used a similar approach of enlarging the image circle well beyond the FF sensor size in their ART series. This extends the perceived area of maximum sharpness, reduces visible light fall off (vignetting) , and in combination with lots of aperture blades makes for rounder bokeh balls at the edges.




Oct 03, 2023 at 10:58 AM
docusync
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p.36 #13 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


saaketham wrote:
I'm currently in the process of trading it for a Sony a7RV with a FM-er who's going the other way.
Plan to test the a7R5 as a second body to accompany my a1.


I personally can't wait until the A7R5's improved IBIS and AF ML chip are merged with a stacked sensor so the A1 II will be born. I guess it's not happening this year, so I need to be patient and control my GAS

1bwana1 wrote:
The Plena is a nice lens that should offer a recognizable rendering character in certain circumstances where bokeh balls figure prominently. It may be the best Christmas lights lens available today. So if you are a mall Santa photographer it is a great choice. It will not offer better sharpness in normal usage for a lens in this FL. It is also not a fundamentally new technology. Sigma used a similar approach of enlarging the image circle well beyond the FF sensor size in their ART series. This reduces visible light fall off, and in combination with lots of aperture
...Show more


I'm not an optical engineer but I think cat-eye bokeh is unavoidable based on this:
https://i.stack.imgur.com/SuwoO.jpg

Yes, as you mentioned it can be improved by enlarging both entrance and throat diameters, but not eliminated entirely (unless it's a really, really huge mount? )



Oct 03, 2023 at 12:38 PM
InFocus2014
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p.36 #14 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


saaketham wrote:
After using a z8 for several weeks, on local and long road-trips (Smokies, Rockies and more) ..
with a 24-70mm f/2.8 S and 800mm f/6.3 PF, these are my conclusions. YMMV.

- z8 is an excellent camera that looks beautiful, and feels solid (albeit heavy/bulky)
- EVF is nicer to use than A1's, LCD is nice, buttons are laid out well
- Custom and Shooting banks are confusing to me, and overkill for my needs
- I got used to light cameras and lenses, and kept picking up the A1 most of the time
- IQ is great, especially for landscapes/flora
- A1 (to me) is
...Show more

I had two A1's and converted one of them to an A7R5 (with a lot of trepidation!).

As it turns out, I find that the two cameras compliment each other well and I shoot them roughly 50-50. The IBIS on the R5 is nothing short of amazing and I really utilize the flippy screen for portrait sessions. The menu's are so similar that I have the two cameras setup nearly identically, so moving between them is fairly seamless.



Oct 03, 2023 at 04:05 PM
Douglas L
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p.36 #15 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


saaketham wrote:
After using a z8 for several weeks, on local and long road-trips (Smokies, Rockies and more) ..
with a 24-70mm f/2.8 S and 800mm f/6.3 PF, these are my conclusions. YMMV.

- z8 is an excellent camera that looks beautiful, and feels solid (albeit heavy/bulky)
- EVF is nicer to use than A1's, LCD is nice, buttons are laid out well
- Custom and Shooting banks are confusing to me, and overkill for my needs
- I got used to light cameras and lenses, and kept picking up the A1 most of the time
- IQ is great, especially for landscapes/flora
- A1 (to me) is
...Show more

I was going to ask you about this, Anil. I am seriously tempted by Nikon's 600 TC. I put my name on the wait list for one. The size of the Z8 is OK with me but I will never buy a camera the size of the Z9. I am so used to the Sony A1's AF and customization that I feel deep inside I will prefer the A1 over the Z8. Wish Sony would make a 600 TC



Oct 03, 2023 at 04:35 PM
1bwana1
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p.36 #16 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


docusync wrote:
I personally can't wait until the A7R5's improved IBIS and AF ML chip are merged with a stacked sensor so the A1 II will be born. I guess it's not happening this year, so I need to be patient and control my GAS


I'm not an optical engineer but I think cat-eye bokeh is unavoidable based on this:
https://i.stack.imgur.com/SuwoO.jpg

Yes, as you mentioned it can be improved by enlarging both entrance and throat diameters, but not eliminated entirely (unless it's a really, really huge mount? )


Light doesn't travel through a lens in a straight line. It exits the lens at angles around the circumference . So, it is not just about the throat diameter. It is the shape of the lens elements that project the light into a wider circle. There are full frame lenses with pretty much zero vignetting, very round bokeh balls, super sharpness, and negligible distortion inside the APSC circle. Now throw in 11 aperture blades and you are a bokeh ball king! Just look at the MTF charts of full frame lenses at the APSC circle boundaries. They are much better than at the full frame edges. Now imagine that Nikon designs a lens that has a projection at the sensor that is actually medium formant in size, but the camera only uses the circumference of the full frame sensor size. It is much like cropping a full frame at the APSC.

Here is a link to a review of the Sony 135mm GM. Look at the MTF charts. The APSC circle would be at about the 13.5 line. As you can see at that distance from the center IQ is pretty much identical to the center the center. Leica makes a number of full frame M lenses, which have a very small diameter, where at the APSC circle the performance is identical to the center, and bokeh balls will be pretty much perfectly round still.

No maging or fundamentally new technology required. Just a different set of priorities.

https://focus-review.com/en/review-sony-fe-135mm-f1-8-gm-2/

In the image below is a Leica lens where the lights make bokeh balls that in this frame don't go all the way out to the full frame edges. But they do go out further than an APSC edge. As you can see they are smooth, and round. For this lens any cats eye distortion is only seen at the very edges and even then not so much. The Leica mount is tiny compared to the Z mount.









Oct 03, 2023 at 07:05 PM
1bwana1
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p.36 #17 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


saaketham wrote:
After using a z8 for several weeks, on local and long road-trips (Smokies, Rockies and more) ..
with a 24-70mm f/2.8 S and 800mm f/6.3 PF, these are my conclusions. YMMV.

- z8 is an excellent camera that looks beautiful, and feels solid (albeit heavy/bulky)
- EVF is nicer to use than A1's, LCD is nice, buttons are laid out well
- Custom and Shooting banks are confusing to me, and overkill for my needs
- I got used to light cameras and lenses, and kept picking up the A1 most of the time
- IQ is great, especially for landscapes/flora
- A1 (to me) is
...Show more

Welcome back Anil, it was inevitable I guess. Having one World class AF system seems like the best path to me. All such journeys are learning experiences. You posted some great images with the Nikot gear. It could have gone either way.

Next I recommend a little trip into the Leica system. I am thinking you will love that experience!



Oct 03, 2023 at 07:34 PM
saaketham
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p.36 #18 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


Douglas L wrote:
I am seriously tempted by Nikon's 600 TC. I put my name on the wait list for one.
The size of the Z8 is OK with me but I will never buy a camera the size of the Z9.
I am so used to the Sony A1's AF and customization that I feel deep inside I will prefer the A1 over the Z8.
Wish Sony would make a 600 TC


Why are you tempted by the 600 TC?
I've never even seen one, and I hope it stays that way for my bank balance's sake.

1bwana1 wrote:
Next I recommend a little trip into the Leica system. I am thinking you will love that experience!


Some day.








Oct 03, 2023 at 10:17 PM
saaketham
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p.36 #19 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


For anyone who likes z8 or is considering it, please don't get me wrong. I loved the images coming out of the z8, including JPEGs. I only traded it due to needing AF that matches the A1's, in a consistent manner without fuss, plus the weight/size of the body itself.

A few recent examples
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-nBrmfQL/0/04b21d83/X5/i-nBrmfQL-X5.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DnBgzhL/0/7b2ea834/X5/i-DnBgzhL-X5.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VWmxDj6/0/c9a78f45/X5/i-VWmxDj6-X5.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-nMcZ6qS/0/e8b1d03b/X5/i-nMcZ6qS-X5.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gzcmdP4/0/2b4ed12c/X5/i-gzcmdP4-X5.jpg



Oct 03, 2023 at 11:15 PM
hiepphotog
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p.36 #20 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III


1bwana1 wrote:
Light doesn't travel through a lens in a straight line. It exits the lens at angles around the circumference . So, it is not just about the throat diameter. It is the shape of the lens elements that project the light into a wider circle. There are full frame lenses with pretty much zero vignetting, very round bokeh balls, super sharpness, and negligible distortion inside the APSC circle. Now throw in 11 aperture blades and you are a bokeh ball king! Just look at the MTF charts of full frame lenses at the APSC circle boundaries. They are much better
...Show more

IMO, that would downplay Nikon engineers' efforts for this Plena. They did not just make a ginormous lens like the Sigma 105/1.4 to achieve minimal optical vignetting, but managed to do so with a lens not much bigger and heavier than the equivalent Canon and Sony. I am mainly curious to see what kind of compromises they made to achieve this. Sony, to an extent, also has been doing this. Their optics are smaller than others but they kept the optical vignetting in check (if not better than Canon).



Oct 04, 2023 at 12:39 AM
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